Description TOMOCHIKA: A SUPERB AND RARE WOOD NETSUKE OF A SPARROW DANCER (SUZUME ODORI)By Chikuyosai Tomochika I, signed Tomochika 友親Japan, Edo (Tokyo), early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)The sparrow dancer raising his left foot dynamically, touching his ankle with his left hand, balled into a fist, the right hand touching his kasa hat. His expression is carved extremely well, and the folds of his robe match the movement of the composition perfectly. Appropriate himotoshi to the back, the larger hole generously excavated to accommodate the knot and signed in boldly incised characters TOMOCHIKA – the work is clearly that of Chikuyosai Tomochika I, founder of the Tomochika school of carvers. The wood bearing a fine, dark patina.HEIGHT 9.5 cmCondition: Very good condition, tiny chip to the back of the hat. Some minor expected surface wear, beautiful patina.Provenance: Formerly the property of the Strong Museum, donated by Margaret Woodbury Strong (1897-1969), a prolific collector and founder and namesake of the museum. With accession no 'MWSM 74.506' lacquered to the side.Literature comparison:There appears to be only one other netsuke recorded of this subject by Tomochika I, formerly in the Seymour Trower collection, illustrated in Joly, H. L. (1966) Catalogue of the H. Seymour Trower Collection of Japanese Art, pl. IV., no. 74, and in Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part B, p. 886.